This section will highlight the history and function of corrections in the justice system. We will examine the three current goals of corrections, which include:

• punishing the offender
• protecting society
• rehabilitating the offender

Within these goals, we will look at and compare the philosophies of punishment over time and how ideologies have changed as a result. The section wraps up with a comparison of the eras of corrections.

A Brief History of Punishment

Feeling safe and secure in person and at home is arguably one of the most discussed feelings in our nation today. The fear of crime influences how we think and act day to day and has throughout our history. This has caused great fluctuation in the United States in regard to how we punish people who are convicted of violating the law. Punishment is a penalty imposed on an individual convicted of a crime or law violation. This comes, in part, from the will of the people, which is then carried out through the legislative process and converted into sentencing practices. People have differing views, or ideologies, on why others should be punished and how much punishment they should receive. These correctional ideologies, or philosophical underpinnings of punishment, have been prevalent throughout the history of the United States, and they have been imposed by governments and societies worldwide since the beginning of humankind as a way to uphold justice and impose punishment. This section details the basic concepts of some of the more frequently held punishment ideologies, which include retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation.

Licenses and Attributions for Philosophies of Punishment

Open Content, Shared Previously

“Philosophies of Punishment” is adapted from “8.1. A Brief History of the Philosophies of Punishment”, “8.2. Retribution”, “8.3. Deterrence”, “8.4. Incapacitation”, and “8.5. Rehabilitation” by David Carter in SOU-CCJ230 Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System by Alison S. Burke, David Carter, Brian Fedorek, Tiffany Morey, Lore Rutz-Burri, and Shanell Sanchez, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Modifications by Megan Gonzalez, revisions by Roxie Supplee, licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 include editing for clarity.